Methods and systems for turbocharger control

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine, the engine including a turbocharger and a transmission. One example method comprises, operating the transmission at a first lower gear with a first boost level, increasing the boost from the first boost level before completing a shift from the first lower gear to a second higher gear, and after completing the shift, operating the transmission at the second higher gear with the increased boost.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/546,334 filed Aug. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,177,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference forall purposes.

FIELD

The present application relates to methods and systems for controllingthe turbocharger boost, specifically during gear shifts.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Vehicles may be configured with transmissions wherein gears areautomatically shifted responsive to vehicle operating conditions. Duringgear upshifts, engine speed is reduced. Then, following the upshift, theengine speed is returned to an increased level. To provide gooddriveability, following the gear upshift, power losses to the wheels(due to the engine speed reduction), may be compensated for by providingmore engine torque. Vehicle engines may use boosting devices, such asturbochargers, to provide more aircharge and achieve increased enginetorque. However, due to turbocharger inertia, the turbocharger speed,and consequently turbocharger boost, desired during and following theupshift is delayed with respect to the engine speed change. As such,this turbo lag results in the feeling of a poor and slow shift, andreduces vehicle performance.

Various control strategies may be used to adjust a turbocharger boostduring transmission upshifts. One example approach is illustrated byBeaty in U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,406 B2. Herein, a selected engine operatingparameter, such as a fuel injection setting or a wastegate control valvesetting, is modulated to maintain the boost pressure during an upshift,and thereby reduce turbo lag. Specifically, in an engine operating in amaximum foot pedal position and an associated full-load condition, theselected engine operating parameter is modulated by maintaining therotational speed of the turbocharger while the engine speed is reduced.

However, the inventors have recognized several potential issues withsuch a method. As one example, the approach involves maintaining theboost pressure at an elevated level during and following the gearupshift. As such, this approach may reduce turbo lag under maximum footpedal position and engine full-load conditions. However, underconditions when the foot pedal position is not maximal, and engine loadsare lower, maintaining boost pressure at the elevated level maysubstantially reduce fuel economy at the lower gear. As another example,the approach entails operating the wastegate valve with open loopcontrol to maximize the turbine's power during the otherwise reducedairflow condition of the transmission upshift. However, as noted above,under conditions when the load is less than full and/or the pedalposition is sub-maximal, operating in this way may substantially reducefuel economy.

Thus in one example, some of the above issues may be addressed by amethod for controlling a vehicle engine, the engine including aturbocharger and a transmission. One example method comprises, operatingthe transmission at a first lower gear with a first boost level,increasing the boost from the first boost level before completing ashift from the first lower gear to a second higher gear, and aftercompleting the shift, operating the transmission at the second highergear with the increased boost.

For example, based at least on a vehicle speed and engine load profile,a transmission gear upshift may be anticipated. Based on the predictionof an upshift, a drop in engine speed following the upshift may also beanticipated. To compensate for potential torque losses responsive to thedrop in engine speed, an elevated boost may be scheduled following thegear upshift. Thus, in response to the upshift prediction, an enginecontroller may be configured to preposition the boost. That is, a boostbuild-up to the desired elevated level may be initiated responsive tothe upshift prediction, for example, shortly after the boost prediction,but before the shift is completed. In one example, the boost level maybe elevated by decreasing a degree of opening, and/or a duration ofopening, of a turbocharger wastegate valve. The elevated boost may beblended in during a transition period preceding the upshift such thatthe elevated boost is attained, and held in reserve, substantiallybefore the actual gear upshift. Torque disturbances arising during thetransition period due to the elevated boost may be compensated usingthrottle adjustments. In this way, the elevated boost level neededimmediately following a transmission upshift may be provided. In sodoing, the quality of transmission shifts and engine performance may beimproved. Furthermore, it may be possible to shift earlier duringvehicle acceleration, thus further improving overall fuel efficiency ofthe powertrain, while also overcoming any turbocharger lag.

It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introducein simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described inthe detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essentialfeatures of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defineduniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description.Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited toimplementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any partof this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example vehicle system layout, including details of avehicle drive-train.

FIG. 2 shows a partial engine view.

FIG. 3 shows a high level flow chart for adjusting a turbocharger boostduring a transmission gear upshift according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a graphical representation of an example turbocharger boostadjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to systems and methods for adjustingengine operation during transmission gear shifts. Specifically, themethod enables potential torque differences, arising due to engine speedchanges during and/or after the gear shift, to be compensated for usinga turbocharger. An engine controller may be configured to perform acontrol routine, such as the routine depicted in FIG. 3, following theprediction of an upcoming gear shift, to adjust the settings andschedule of a turbocharger boost during the gear shift. The turbochargersettings may be adjusted to match a predicted boost profile. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the turbocharger adjustments may be initiatedbefore the gear shift commences and may continue during a transitionperiod before the gear shift is completed. Further torque adjustmentsmay be achieved by modulating the throttle. That is, the turbochargersettings may be adjusted to preposition the boost in anticipation of adesired boost level. By prepositioning the boost, a manifold pressure“reserve” may be achieved before the shift, allowing a torque desiredduring and after the shift to be attained on demand. In this way, byprepositioning the boost, a desired engine aircharge and torque can beachieved throughout and after the gear shift, thereby improving theshift quality and vehicle driveability.

FIG. 1 depicts an example embodiment of a vehicle system 100. Asillustrated, an internal combustion engine 10, further described hereinin FIG. 2, is shown coupled to torque converter 22 via crankshaft 21.Torque converter 22 is also coupled to transmission 24 via turbine shaft23. Torque converter 22 has a bypass, or lock-up clutch (not shown)which may be engaged, disengaged, or partially engaged. When the clutchis either disengaged or partially engaged, the torque converter is saidto be in an unlocked state. The lock-up clutch may be actuatedelectrically, hydraulically, or electro-hydraulically, for example. Thelock-up clutch may receive a control signal from the controller, such asa pulse width modulated signal, to engage, disengage, or partiallyengage, the clutch based on engine, vehicle, and/or transmissionoperating conditions.

Turbine shaft 23 is also known as a transmission input shaft.Transmission 24 comprises an electronically controlled transmission witha plurality of selectable discrete gear ratios. Transmission 24 alsocomprises various other gears, such as, for example, a final drive ratio26. In alternate embodiments, a manual transmission operated by a driverwith a clutch may be used. Further, various types of automatictransmission may be used. Transmission 24 is coupled to tire 28 via axle27. Tire 28 interfaces the vehicle (not shown) to the road 30. In oneembodiment, the powertrain of vehicle system 100 is coupled in apassenger vehicle that travels on the road.

FIG. 2 depicts an example embodiment of a combustion chamber or cylinderof the engine 10 of FIG. 1. Engine 10 may receive control parametersfrom a control system including controller 12 and input from a vehicleoperator 130 via an input device 132. In this example, input device 132includes an accelerator pedal and a pedal position sensor 134 forgenerating a proportional pedal position signal PP. Cylinder (hereinalso “combustion chamber’) 14 of engine 10 may include combustionchamber walls 136 with piston 138 positioned therein. Piston 138 may becoupled to crankshaft 140 so that reciprocating motion of the piston istranslated into rotational motion of the crankshaft. Crankshaft 140 maybe coupled to at least one drive wheel of the passenger vehicle via atransmission system. Further, a starter motor may be coupled tocrankshaft 140 via a flywheel to enable a starting operation of engine10.

Cylinder 14 can receive intake air via a series of intake air passages142, 144, and 146. Intake air passage 146 can communicate with othercylinders of engine 10 in addition to cylinder 14. In some embodiments,one or more of the intake passages may include a boosting device such asa turbocharger or a supercharger. For example, FIG. 2 shows engine 10configured with a turbocharger including a compressor 174 arrangedbetween intake passages 142 and 144, and an exhaust turbine 176 arrangedalong exhaust passage 148. Compressor 174 may be at least partiallypowered by exhaust turbine 176 via a shaft 180 where the boosting deviceis configured as a turbocharger. However, in other examples, such aswhere engine 10 is provided with a supercharger, exhaust turbine 176 maybe optionally omitted, where compressor 174 may be powered by mechanicalinput from a motor or the engine. A wastegate (not shown) may beincluded on the turbine side of the turbocharger to control the amountof exhaust gas reaching the turbine from exhaust passage 148.Specifically, the boost magnitude may be adjusted by controller 12 bymodulating a degree of opening, and/or a duration of opening, of awastegate valve. A throttle 162 including a throttle plate 164 may beprovided along an intake passage of the engine for varying the flow rateand/or pressure of intake air provided to the engine cylinders. Forexample, throttle 162 may be disposed downstream of compressor 174 asshown in FIG. 2, or alternatively may be provided upstream of compressor174. As elaborated herein with reference to FIG. 4, controller 12 may beconfigured to further adjust an amount of boost provided to the engineby adjusting a degree of opening of throttle 162.

Exhaust passage 148 can receive exhaust gases from other cylinders ofengine 10 in addition to cylinder 14. Exhaust gas sensor 128 is showncoupled to exhaust passage 148 upstream of emission control device 178.Sensor 128 may be selected from among various suitable sensors forproviding an indication of exhaust gas air/fuel ratio such as a linearoxygen sensor or UEGO (universal or wide-range exhaust gas oxygen), atwo-state oxygen sensor or EGO (as depicted), a HEGO (heated EGO), aNOx, HC, or CO sensor, for example. Emission control device 178 may be athree way catalyst (TWC), NOx trap, various other emission controldevices, or combinations thereof.

Exhaust temperature may be estimated by one or more temperature sensors(not shown) located in exhaust passage 148. Alternatively, exhausttemperature may be inferred based on engine operating conditions such asspeed, load, air-fuel ratio (AFR), spark retard, etc. Further, exhausttemperature may be computed by one or more exhaust gas sensors 128. Itmay be appreciated that the exhaust gas temperature may alternatively beestimated by any combination of temperature estimation methods listedherein.

Each cylinder of engine 10 may include one or more intake valves and oneor more exhaust valves. For example, cylinder 14 is shown including atleast one intake poppet valve 150 and at least one exhaust poppet valve156 located at an upper region of cylinder 14. In some embodiments, eachcylinder of engine 10, including cylinder 14, may include at least twointake poppet valves and at least two exhaust poppet valves located atan upper region of the cylinder. The opening and closing of the valvesmay be controlled by hydraulically actuated lifters coupled to valvepushrods, or via a cam profile switching mechanism. For example, intakevalve 150 and exhaust valve 156 may be controlled by cam actuation viarespective cam actuation systems 151 and 153. Cam actuation systems 151and 153 may each include one or more cams and may utilize one or more ofcam profile switching (CPS), variable cam timing (VCT), variable valvetiming (VVT) and/or variable valve lift (VVL) systems that may beoperated by controller 12 to vary valve operation. The position ofintake valve 150 and exhaust valve 156 may be determined by valveposition sensors 155 and 157, respectively. In alternative embodiments,the intake and/or exhaust valve may be controlled by electric valveactuation. For example, cylinder 14 may alternatively include an intakevalve controlled via electric valve actuation and an exhaust valvecontrolled via cam actuation including CPS and/or VCT systems.

In some embodiments, each cylinder of engine 10 may include a spark plug192 for initiating combustion. Ignition system 190 can provide anignition spark to combustion chamber 14 via spark plug 192 in responseto spark advance signal SA from controller 12, under select operatingmodes. However, in some embodiments, spark plug 192 may be omitted, suchas where engine 10 may initiate combustion by auto-ignition or byinjection of fuel, as may be the case with some diesel engines.

In some embodiments, each cylinder of engine 10 may be configured withone or more fuel injectors for providing fuel thereto. As a non-limitingexample, cylinder 14 is shown including one fuel injector 166. Fuelinjector 166 is shown coupled directly to cylinder 14 for injecting fueldirectly therein in proportion to the pulse width of signal FPW-1received from controller 12 via electronic driver 168. In this manner,fuel injector 166 provides what is known as direct injection (hereafteralso referred to as “DI”) of fuel into combustion cylinder 14. WhileFIG. 2 shows injector 166 as a side injector, it may also be locatedoverhead of the piston, such as near the position of spark plug 192.Such a position may improve mixing and combustion when operating theengine with an alcohol-based fuel due to the lower volatility of somealcohol-based fuels. Alternatively, the injector may be located overheadand near the intake valve to improve mixing. Fuel may be delivered tofuel injector 166 from a high pressure fuel system 8 including fueltanks, fuel pumps, and a fuel rail. Alternatively, fuel may be deliveredby a single stage fuel pump at lower pressure, in which case the timingof the direct fuel injection may be more limited during the compressionstroke than if a high pressure fuel system is used. Further, while notshown, the fuel tanks may have a pressure transducer providing a signalto controller 12. It will be appreciated that, in an alternateembodiment, injector 166 may be a port injector providing fuel into theintake port upstream of cylinder 14.

Controller 12 is shown in FIG. 2 as a microcomputer, includingmicroprocessor unit 106, input/output ports 108, an electronic storagemedium for executable programs and calibration values shown as read onlymemory (ROM) chip 110 in this particular example, random access memory(RAM) 112, keep alive memory (KAM) 114, and a data bus. Storage mediumread-only memory 110 can be programmed with computer readable datarepresenting instructions executable by processor 102 for performing themethods described below as well as other variants that are anticipatedbut not specifically listed. Controller 12 may receive various signalsfrom sensors coupled to engine 10, in addition to those signalspreviously discussed, including measurement of inducted mass air flow(MAF) from mass air flow sensor 122; engine coolant temperature (ECT)from temperature sensor 116 coupled to cooling sleeve 118; a profileignition pickup signal (PIP) from Hall effect sensor 120 (or other type)coupled to crankshaft 140; throttle position (TP) from a throttleposition sensor; and absolute manifold air pressure signal (MAP) fromsensor 124. Engine speed signal, RPM, may be generated by controller 12from signal PIP. Further, crankshaft position, as well as crankshaftacceleration, and crankshaft oscillations may also be identified basedon the signal PIP. Manifold air pressure signal MAP from manifoldpressure sensor 124 may be used to provide an indication of vacuum, orpressure, in the intake manifold. Further, manifold pressure may beestimated based on other operating parameters, such as based on MAF andRPM, for example.

Controller 12 may also be configured to adjust an amount of boostprovided to the engine intake manifold during and after a transmissiongear shift. Upon the prediction of an upcoming gear shift, for examplean upcoming gear upshift, the controller may anticipate an upcoming dropin engine speed and a simultaneous need for more torque. As elaboratedwith reference to FIGS. 3-4, the controller may schedule an increase inboost to start before the gear shift, and continue through the gearshift, such that an increased boost is available before the gear shifthas been completed. The controller may determine an amount of boostincrease based on the new gear following the shift, and/or engineoperating conditions in the new gear. Additionally, a time of initiatingthe boost increase may be adjusted. In some examples, based on theengine operating conditions, the controller may also be configured toadjust a time of actual gear shifting (for example, by shifting the gearearlier than previously scheduled, or later than previously scheduled).By prepositioning the boost based on a predicted boost profile, anamount of manifold pressure may be kept in reserve and providedsubstantially immediately, upon driver demand.

Now turning to FIG. 3, a routine 300 is described for adjusting aturbocharger schedule and settings to achieve a desired boost profileupon the prediction of an upcoming transmission gear shift.

At 302, engine operating conditions may be estimated, measured, and/orinferred. The conditions assessed may include, for example, engine speed(N_(e)), barometric pressure, manifold pressure (MAP), manifold air flow(MAF), a cam timing (VCT), a driver-demanded torque (for example, from apedal-position sensor), engine temperature, air temperature, otherengine airflow actuator settings, a current transmission gear, etc. At304, based on the estimated engine operating conditions, a desiredmanifold pressure or boost (or boost profile) (turbo_desmap) may bedetermined. For example, the transmission may be operating at a first,lower, gear with a first boost level.

At 306, it is determined whether a transmission shift is predicted. Thatis, it is determined whether a transmission gear shift is coming up. Inthe depicted example, it may be determined whether a transmission gearupshift from the first lower gear to a second higher gear is predicted.However, in alternate examples, it may be determined whether atransmission downshift is coming up. As such, the higher gear mayrepresent a gear at which, for a given engine speed, the vehicle wheelsturn faster. In one example, the gear upshift is predicted based on ashift schedule. The shift schedule may be based at least on (and storedin terms of) a vehicle speed and/or engine load profile (for example, asindicated by a pedal position sensor). For example, as a vehicle speedincreases at a given engine load, the routine may schedule an upshiftfrom a first lower gear to a second, higher gear (such as, from atransmission first gear to a transmission second gear, or a transmissionsecond gear to a transmission third gear, and so on).

If a transmission shift is not predicted, at 308, the routine maydetermine turbocharger control and schedule settings for the previouslydetermined desired boost level (turbo_desmap). As such, the turbochargersettings adjusted may include a desired boosting level, a desiredwastegate valve position, a desired vane position, a desired nozzleposition, a desired airflow, a desired boost profile and schedule, etc.Additionally, the throttle position may be adjusted to attain thedesired boost profile. The routine may then proceed to 316 to operatethe turbocharger based on the determined settings to provide the desiredboost profile. That is, the turbocharger may be operated to enable thetransmission to be operated at the first, lower gear with the firstlower boost level.

In comparison, if a transmission upshift from the first lower gear to asecond higher gear is predicted, at 310, the routine may determine asecond manifold pressure or boost level desired during and after thegear shift (turbo_desmap_upshift). That is, a change in boost levelsbetween the different gears may be determined. As one example, duringand after a gear upshift, the engine speed may reduce. Accordingly, asecond higher boost may be needed during and after the gear shift tocompensate for the potential torque loss due to the drop in enginespeed. As such, even when the driver-demanded torque is substantiallythe same before and after the gear shift, the wheel torque in thesecond, higher gear, may be at or below the wheel torque in the firstgear. In one example, the second boost level may be based on the natureof the second higher gear (that is, whether the second gear is atransmission second gear or third gear or fourth gear, etc.) and/orengine operating conditions in the second gear. The engine operatingconditions may include, for example, an engine speed, an engine load, adesired engine torque, a cam timing, a vehicle speed, an engine airflowin the second gear, a manifold pressure in the second gear, and/or otherengine airflow actuator settings in the second gear. In this way, theamount of boost increased in response to the prediction of a gearupshift may based on the second gear and engine operating conditions inthe second gear.

At 312, the maximum of the determined boosts, that is, the larger ofturbo_desmap and turbo_desmap_upshift, may be selected and a blending ofthe desired boost as a function of gear shift completion may bedetermined (turbo_desmap_comp). Alternatively, the desired map may beblended as a function of time, such as an amount of time following theprediction of a gear shift, or an amount of time following the start ofthe gear shift. Thus, in one example, the boost profile may be adjustedsuch that the boost increase is initiated following (for example,immediately after) the gear upshift prediction and completed beforestarting the shift. In another example, the boost profile may beadjusted to initiate a blending of the desired boost at the start of atransition period preceding the gear shift. In either case, the boostblending may be adjusted such that the increased boost is attainedbefore the gear shift is completed.

At 314, the routine may determine turbocharger control and schedulesettings for the desired boost and desired boost blending(turbo_desmap_comp). As previously mentioned, the turbocharger settingsadjusted may include a desired boosting level, a desired wastegate valveposition, a desired vane position, a desired airflow, etc. Additionally,a desired throttle position may be established to attain the desiredboost profile. The routine may then proceed to 316 to operate theturbocharger based on the determined settings to provide the desiredboost profile. That is, the turbocharger may be operated to enable thetransmission to be operated at the second, higher gear with theincreased (second) boost. To further clarify the boost adjustments ofroutine 300, an example boost adjustment in response to a predicted gearupshift is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Now turning to FIG. 4, a timing map 400 is illustrated elaborating theadjustments performed in response to the prediction of a gear upshift,to thereby adjust a boost level during and after completion of the gearshift. Graph 402 represents the change of a transmission gear from afirst lower gear 403 a to a second higher gear 403 b (for example from atransmission first gear to a second gear, or a second gear to a thirdgear, etc.). The engine controller may predict a transmission upshiftbased at least on an engine speed and/or vehicle speed profile. Forexample, the controller may use a shift schedule stored in thecontroller memory to predict an upcoming gear shift. In the depictedexample, in response to a gradual increase in vehicle speed and/orengine load (not shown), the controller may predict a gear upshift 412at t₁. Accordingly, an upshift command 414 may be signaled by thecontroller at t₂. However, before the gear is shifted from the firstlower gear 403 a to the second higher gear 403 b, the engine may firstenter a transition period 416 wherein the engine prepares for theupshift. At the end of the transition period, specifically at t₃, theupshift completion 418 may be signaled.

As shown by graph 404, it may be desired to increase the driver-demandedtorque as engine speed drops during the transition between gears (asshown by graph 406), to provide a smaller drop in engine power output(which is proportional to torque multiplied by speed). In one example,the desired engine torque may increase during the upshift, but notsufficiently to result in constant engine power. In alternate examples,the desired torque before the gear upshift may be the same as orslightly lower than the desired torque during and/or after the gearupshift. As such, based on the desired torque, a wheel torque may vary.

As shown by graph 406, the engine speed (N_(e)) may be steadily risingin the first lower gear 403 a before the upshift command 414. Then,following the upshift command 414 at t₂, the engine speed may start toreduce. As such, this drop in engine speed may cause a potential fall inoutput torque. Thus, to enable the driver-demanded torque to bemaintained at the desired level, a boost level may be increased tocompensate for the torque loss. Following upshift completion 418 at t₃,the engine speed may gradually rise (for example, back to the enginespeed before the gear upshift).

Graphs 408 and 410 depict an example boost increase that may bescheduled by the controller in response to the upshift prediction 412,to enable an increased aircharge to be provided to the engine.Specifically, the boost is depicted in terms of a pressure upstream ofthe throttle in graph 408 and a pressure downstream of the throttle (orMAP) in graph 410. In the depicted example, in anticipation of a torqueloss during the gear upshift, and further in anticipation of anincreased torque demand during the gear upshift, a boost may beprepositioned. That is, in anticipation of the need of a higher MAPfollowing the upshift (that is, after t₃), the turbocharger settings maybe adjusted to initiate a build-up of pressure upstream of the throttleconcurrent with the upshift prediction 412 and before starting theshift. Herein, the boost increase may be initiated before the transitionperiod 416 and may be gradually increased to bring MAP to the desiredlevel over at least some part of the transition period 416, such thatthe elevated MAP is available at or before the upshift completion 418(at t₃). In this way, the boost may be blended to match the gear shift.It will be appreciated that while the depicted example illustratesinitiating boost blending at a time before the transition period 416 andconcurrent with the upshift command 414, in alternate examples, based onthe engine operating conditions, the boost increase may be initiated atthe start of the transition period 416.

As such, the elevated manifold air pressure during the transition period416 may cause the output torque to increase beyond the driver-demandedtorque. Thus, during the increase in boost or pressure upstream of thethrottle, over the transition period 416, torque disturbances caused bythe increasing boost may be compensated using throttle adjustments.

In the depicted example, as shown by graph 411, the throttle opening maybe gradually reduced (or closed) prior to the upshift, as the boostlevel increases. Then, during the upshift, as the engine speed drops,the throttle opening may be gradually increased. Following thecompletion of the upshift, that is, at t₃, the throttle opening may bemaintained in the open state to attain the desired airflow. While thedepicted example illustrates an increase in the throttle openingfollowing the upshift, it will be appreciated that in alternateexamples, the throttle opening may be decreased, or maintained, based onthe airflow desired following the upshift, and/or further based on theturbocharger settings following the upshift. This allows the airchargeto be reduced during the transition without causing a sudden change inengine torque, while allowing the aircharge and boost levels to beimmediately raised to the desired level upon gear upshift. In this way,during the increase in boost or pressure upstream of the throttle,torque disturbances caused by the increasing boost may be compensated bydecreasing the throttle position to achieve a desired engine airflowduring the boost increase.

By predicting an amount of boost increase that may be desired in the newgear following a predicted gear upshift, and further by providing andholding the boost in reserve, it may be possible to enable adjustment ofthe shift schedule, e.g., enabling an upshift at a lower engine speed,for a given pedal position. As such, the amount of boost increase may beadjusted based on the new gear, and engine operating conditions at thetime of, and following, the gear shift. In one example, during coolerambient conditions, based on the vehicle speed and engine load profile,the controller may predict a gear upshift from a transmission first gearto a transmission second gear at a first lower engine speed. Thecontroller may predict a first increased boost level desired in the newgear to maintain the desired torque following the gear shift. Thecontroller may further determine that the corresponding amount of boostincrease may be provided by the turbocharger under the given engineoperating conditions without causing degradation, such as engine knock.Thus, the controller may schedule the boost increase at or after thegear upshift prediction, hold the boost in reserve, command an “earlier”(e.g., lower engine speed) gear upshift, and provide the desired boostin the new gear. That is, during the first upshift without knockconstraints, the controller may increase boost by a first higher amountbefore completing the upshift.

In another example, during warmer and drier ambient conditions, based onthe same vehicle speed and engine load profile, the controller maypredict that a gear upshift from the transmission first gear to thetransmission second gear at the lower engine speed will cause knockingafter completing the shift, due to the first amount of increased boost.To address the knocking, the controller may then “delay” the gearupshift, and perform the gear shift at a second higher engine speedusing a second amount of boost increase, the second amount lower thanthe first amount noted in the example described above. Thus, thecontroller may then predict a second boost level desired in the new gearto maintain the desired torque following the gear shift. Herein, giventhe later gear upshift, the corresponding amount of boost increaserequired may be lower than the “earlier” upshift. Thus, the controllermay schedule the lower amount of boost increase to start at a later timeas compared to the above example, hold the boost in reserve, command thelater gear upshift, and then provide the lower boost in the new gear.That is, during the second upshift with knock constraints, thecontroller may increase boost by a second amount before completing theupshift, the second amount lower than the first amount provided in theupshift without knock constraints. In this way, based on engineoperating conditions, an amount and timing of pre-boosting may beadjusted such that the desired boost and the desired torque is availableas soon as the transmission is in the new gear.

Similarly, the amount of pre-boosting increase may be affected bywhether the gear upshift is from a transmission second gear to a thirdgear, or from a third gear to a fourth gear, the vehicle speed at whichthe gear change occurs, etc. For example, a higher amount of boostincrease may be required when shifting from the second gear to the thirdgear and a lower amount of boost increase may be required when shiftingfrom the third gear to the fourth gear. In this way, by adjusting a gearshift point and an amount of boost increase responsive to engineoperating conditions, potential issues such as knock may be addressed,and the quality of the gear upshift may be improved.

In one example, the boost level may be increased by adjusting thesetting of the wastegate valve. For example, the engine controller maybe configured to decrease the degree of opening of the wastegate valve,to thereby reduce the amount of exhaust gas that is allowed to bypassthe turbocharger turbine. Additionally, or optionally, the enginecontroller may be configured to decrease the duration of opening of thewastegate valve. In one example, when the wastegate valve is a solenoidvalve, the controller may activate or deactivate the solenoid (based onthe valve configuration), and/or adjust the duty cycle of the solenoid,to adjust the amount of exhaust gas that bypasses the turbine throughthe wastegate. In this way, by reducing the amount of exhaust gas thatis allowed to bypass the turbocharger turbine, the amount of pressurizedaircharge supplied to the intake manifold may be increased, therebyincreasing the boost level. In alternate examples, alternateturbocharger settings may be appropriately adjusted to achieve theelevated boost.

While the abovementioned example illustrates boost modulation usingwastegate valve adjustments, in alternate examples, boost modulation maybe achieved by adjusting the vane position (for example, when theturbocharger is a variable geometry turbocharger), or adjusting thenozzle position (for example, when the turbocharger is a variable nozzleturbocharger).

In this way, by prepositioning a boost, an elevated boost needed at thehigher gear following a gear upshift may be attained substantiallybefore the upshift occurs. By holding the boost in reserve before theupshift, the elevated boost may be provided as soon as it is needed. Inthis way, the sensation of turbo lag may be substantially eliminatedbecause there is always a throttle position that provides the desiredairflow and torque. Thus the quality of the shift may be improved.Furthermore, the vehicle performance may be improved via improvements inthrough-gear acceleration.

Note that the example process flows included herein can be used withvarious valve system, engine system, and/or vehicle systemconfigurations. These process flows may represent one or more of anynumber of processing strategies such as event-driven, interrupt-driven,multi-tasking, multi-threading, and the like that may be performed bythe control system. As such, various acts, operations, or functionsillustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in parallel,or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the order of processing is notnecessarily required to achieve the features and advantages of theexample embodiments described herein, but is provided for ease ofillustration and description. One or more of the illustrated acts oroperations may be repeatedly performed depending on the particularstrategy being used. Further, the described acts may graphicallyrepresent code to be programmed into a computer readable storage mediumof the control system.

It will be appreciated that the configurations and process flowsdisclosed herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specificembodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, becausenumerous variations are possible.

The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel andnonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various systems andconfigurations, and other features, functions, and/or propertiesdisclosed herein. The following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. Theseclaims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalentthereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation ofone or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or moresuch elements. Other combinations and subcombinations of the disclosedfeatures, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed throughamendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims inthis or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower,equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regardedas included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed:
 1. A method for controlling a vehicle engineincluding a turbocharger and a transmission, comprising, providingdirect fuel injection to the engine; operating the transmission at afirst lower gear with a first boost level; increasing the boost from thefirst boost level while in the first gear and during an upshifttransition to a second higher gear; and after completing the upshift,operating the transmission at the second higher gear with the increasedboost.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, predicting theshift from the first lower gear to the second higher gear based at leaston a vehicle speed.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a level of theincrease in boost is based on the second gear.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein a level of the increase in boost is based on engine operatingconditions in the second gear including at least one of an engine speedand an engine load, torque or manifold pressure in the second gear. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission is an automatictransmission coupled to a torque converter.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising, during the increase in boost, compensating torquedisturbances caused by by decreasing throttle position.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the transmission is an automatic transmission.
 8. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the turbocharger includes a wastegate, andwherein increasing boost includes decreasing a degree of opening of thewastegate valve.
 9. A method for controlling a vehicle, the vehicleincluding a turbocharger, an engine, and a transmission, comprising,operating the transmission at a first lower gear with a first boost;predicting a gear upshift from the first lower gear to a second highergear based on at least a pedal position; increasing the boost from thefirst boost to a second boost before completing the gear upshift, saidsecond boost higher than said first boost; and after completing the gearupshift, operating the transmission at the second higher gear with thesecond boost.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gear upshift isfurther predicted based on a shift schedule and a vehicle speed.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the second boost is based on operatingconditions in the second gear, the engine operating conditions in thesecond gear including at least one of an engine speed, an engine load,and a vehicle speed in the second gear.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein increasing the boost includes increasing the boost during atransition period of the gear shift.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe turbocharger includes a nozzle, and increasing boost includesadjusting a nozzle position.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising, during the boost increase, compensating torque disturbancescaused by the increasing boost using throttle adjustments.
 15. A methodfor controlling a vehicle engine including a turbocharger and atransmission, comprising, operating the transmission at a first lowergear with a first boost level; increasing the boost from the first boostlevel while in the first gear and during an upshift transition to asecond higher gear to generate a boost reserve; and after completing theupshift, operating the transmission at the second higher gear with theincreased boost.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising adjustinga shift schedule of the transmission to upshift at a lower engine speed,for a given pedal position, via the boost reserve.